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Sunday, 22 January 2012

IS SOLA SCRIPTURA TRUE AND FROM GOD?

IS SOLA SCRIPTURA TRUE AND FROM GOD?

Did you know that the doctrine of Sola Scriptura has existed
only for the last 500 years? Before the reformation, the doctrine of Sola
Scriptura was unknown. The church was not ruled by Sola Scriptura. It was a
doctrine that was invented during the reformation. That is history, if you would
care to look it up.

What I am saying is what the church taught for the first 1500
years of its existence. It was not until Martin Luther nailed his 95 thesis on
the door of Wittenberg Cathedral that men began to teach the Bible as you teach
it now. Up until around 1520 or so, the church itself was in the role that you
put the Bible in.

The reformation rejected the idea of the church being the
guardian of the truth because of the massive corruption and abuse in the
Catholic branch. In rejecting all things Catholic, they had to have some
foundation for their doctrine. And so was born the doctrine of Sola Scriptura -
what you are asserting. That doctrine does not go back to the Apostles, but only
back to the later part of the reformation.

This is all verifiable stuff. Have you ever sought out the
origins of Sola Scriptura? I have. It is a relative recent doctrine invented to
fill a void created by the rejection of all things Catholic.

Even the Catholics were not following what the Bible teaches as
to how we are supposed to be individually taught by God.

Joh 6:45 It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all
taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the
Father, cometh unto me.

The reason that the church fell into corruption is because they
also were enslaved by the alternate path. However, the source they substituted
for personal instruction by God was “church tradition”. (That also snared the
Jews.) All the doctrine of Sola Scriptura did was substitute one second hand
source for another second hand source - fleshly understanding of the Bible for
“church tradition”. The source was still second hand information as opposed to
the first hand information created by listening to God and obeying
Him.

It matters not what the second hand source is. It is the fact
that it is second hand that is the problem. God is seeking those who will listen
to Him and obey. When God speaks to you, it is a living thing, for God’s words
are spirit and are alive. They enter you and they affect the desired change in
you. That is why the only way that one can be saved is by listening to and
obeying God through the Holy Spirit. It is only God speaking to you and you
accepting it that can change a man’s heart. Knowing good from evil does not
change a man’s heart.

Since the doctrine of Sola Scriptura came on the scene, what has
been its fruit? If the Bible were the correct source, ought not the church to be
united in one doctrine? What has been the fruit of Sola Scriptura except greater
and greater division and conflict?

If the Bible is the “Word of God”, why can’t we be united in one
common doctrine? The doctrine of Sola Scriptura itself is the author of that
massive tidal wave of division and sectarian squabbling. No one can agree on
what it says. Why is that? If Sola Scriptura is true and the Bible is the one
true source of the truth about God, we should all be united in one common set of
beliefs.

The fact that we are not is sufficient to falsify the doctrine.
There are tens of thousands of sects and denominations worldwide. If you get 10
Christians in a room, there will be 12 opinions on what any verse
says.

The reason that Sola Scriptura is responsible for all the
division is because it places men in the role of trying to figure out the truths
of God using a defective instrument – a mind darkened by sin. Since the things
of the Spirit of God are foolishness to the natural mind, the outcome of the sin
darkened mind is foolishness. It is the opposite of what is true. The carnal
mind cannot grasp the things of the Spirit of God, and he cannot know
them.

That is why it is necessary to be taught of God. He can and does
explain how all the things we thing are foolishness and all the things He thinks
are not. By revelation we can understand the juxtaposition of truth and
error.

9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways
higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

This verse explains why we must become as little children and be
taught by God from the simplest concept to the most divine. It is this dichotomy
that is at the root of why Sola Scriptura has not enabled the church to be fully
restored to its former glory. It is Isa 55:8-9 that necessitates that my view of
scripture is the correct one. Those who approach God through the acquisition of
knowledge never find Him. Those who approach Him by letting Him teach us through
the Spirit do find Him. Only God is able to get around the fact that the natural
mind cannot get past the fact that the things of the Spirit of God are
foolishness to him.

This is called “ever learning but never able to come to the
knowledge of the truth”.

2Ti 3:5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power
thereof: from such turn away.

6 For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead
captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts,

7 Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the
truth.

It is the alternate path that this verse is describing. Ever
seeking after knowledge and never being able to come to the knowledge of the
truth.

The seeking after knowledge has the form of
godliness.

Ge 3:5 For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then
your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and
evil.

But it denies the power thereof.

The fruit of your view of the Bible is massive division and
in-fighting in the church, an inability to agree on what the Bible says. Jesus
said we will know whether something is true or not by its fruits.